Northeast States Form Vaccine Panel Amid Federal Advisory Changes

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has made sweeping changes to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), replacing all 17 members with a smaller group including vaccine skeptics and critics. This has sparked concern among states and health experts about the future of vaccine recommendations, with some states like Colorado passing laws to maintain science-based vaccine policies independent of ACIP. In response, Democratic-led states in the Northeast, including Maine, Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island, are exploring the formation of their own regional vaccine advisory group to counter federal shifts and ensure continued access to vaccines. The reconstituted federal committee controversially voted to ban thimerosal in flu vaccines despite no evidence of harm, raising alarms about vaccine availability and public trust. These developments reflect deepening divisions between federal and state approaches to vaccine policy amid fears that inconsistent messaging could erode public confidence. Medical groups, vaccine manufacturers, and states are actively seeking ways to work around the altered federal guidance to preserve vaccine safety and availability.